JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — A jury in San Francisco found that a man developed cancer from his exposure to Roundup weed killer he used in his yard.
It's the second case with a similar finding that Roundup caused or was a "substantial factor" in causing non-hodgkin's lymphoma.
Jefferson Parish Council Chairman Chris Roberts was diagnosed with that same cancer when he was 29-years-old.
He blames Roundup and manufacturer Monsanto.
"My father was a supplier for Monsanto for 40 years," Roberts said. "We used the product regularly at home. We used it in my household once I moved out in spraying the sidewalks and other areas."
Roberts is a plaintiff in the California litigation. His case will be handled by the same judge who ruled on Tuesday.
He is suing Monsanto and parent company Bayer.
The father of three said his cancer diagnosis has profoundly changed his life.
"I have a daughter, so the very first thing that goes through your mind is who's going to be around to walk her down the aisle," Roberts said. "I continue to have to go seek treatment every six months and see my doctor and have blood work done and I'll have to do that for the remainder of my life."
The Roundup lawsuit now heads to phase two where the jury will decide whether the manufacturer is liable.
"Now they move to liability phase," WWL-TV legal analyst and attorney Chick Foret said. "Did they cheat? Did they mislead? Did they misrepresent? Did they fudge on tests? "
Foret added that it doesn't look good for Monsanto.
"The bell weather trials are presenting a very clear picture that this is a very dangerous product," Foret said.
Chris Roberts says he feels so strongly about the dangers of Roundup that he has asked the Jefferson Parish Recreation Department to stop using the product.
"My recommendation to people would be, I wouldn't use the product," Roberts said. "I just wouldn't."
About 80 percent of Roundup weed killer used in the United States is produced at the Monsanto plant in Luling.
Bayer bought Monsanto for $63 billion last year and has denied the allegations.
On the heels of Tuesday's verdict, the company's stock today took a hit of about 10 percent.
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WWL-TV reporter Paul Murphy can be reached at pmurphy@wwltv.com